11.07.2016

Whispers of the "R" Word at Waltham

November 27, 2005

WALTHAM - No one likes to mention the "r" word around the Celtics' practice
facility. Coach Doc Rivers and executive director of basketball
operations Danny Ainge know the stigma attached to the word
"rebuilding."But anyone looking at the product on the parquet can't help but see that there is work to be done. TheCeltics not
only need to rebuild for the future, but need to make something happen
this season. One way to do that would be to regain the commitment to
defense that appeared briefly at the beginning of the season.

To
that end, Rivers conducted a remedial workout yesterday. Although
practice lasted little more than an hour, the coaching staff crammed in a
review of defensive fundamentals.

"We
worked on a lot of defensive stuff," said Rivers. "I kind of went to
some of the drills we did in training camp, just for our post defense
and our pick-and-roll defense. That was good.

"Then
we worked on some full-court press stuff. It was nothing new. We just
need to keep working to keep getting better. It's rebuilding,
refocusing, whatever you want to call it."

The Celtics will
not be competitive without better defense, better rebounding, better
chemistry, and better execution on offense. Anyone that believes that a
1-point win over Charlotte Friday night represented an improvement is
delusional. Rivers, however, did take encouragement from holding the
Bobcats to 89 points. He and the players know that number is only a
start on a long road back to what they hope will be a playoff berth
(postseason talk at this point being incredibly premature).

"We've
got a long way to go," said Rivers. "I told you that before and after
the game. But [the players] are looking at it like we have work to do,
so we're focusing on it. I just want consistency and effort on defense.
It doesn't mean we're going to be great defensively every night. But at
least we're on the same page."

Added
Paul Pierce, "I think we have to be more competitive on a more
consistent basis. When we give up 100 points in four or five straight
games, that's not being competitive at all. If we can continue to [keep
teams below 100] and do it on a consistent basis, I think we'll be fine.
It's about developing that competitiveness on the defensive end and not
allowing teams to just come in and do whatever they want."

The Celtics,
who have struggled with defensive rotations and switches, are allowing
opponents to shoot 46 percent from the floor and average 101.4 points
per game. In 7 of 11 games, the opposing team has scored more than 100.
Rivers sees defensive improvement as a matter of effort and energy.

Still,
going through fundamentals was necessary because some players do not
have a clear understanding of what needs to be done. Whether that is a
result of youth and inexperience or the coaching staff not communicating
well enough remains a question for another day.

"When
you have all 12 or 15 guys come to understand that [we have to compete
consistently on defense], then we're going to get it," said Pierce. "But
if you only have a third of the guys or three-quarters of the guys get
it, then it's going to be hard."

It
should come as no surprise that Mark Blount left immediately after
practice and could not be reached for comment. The center did not play
Friday night due to a coach's decision.

In
the wake of that win, it may be easy to portray Blount as a major part
of Boston's problems with defensive effort and energy. But his
teammates, including Pierce, Ricky Davis, and Raef LaFrentz, are
reluctant to heap blame on the 7-footer.

While
Blount's rebounding statistics (3.6 per game) speak volumes, it is also
clear that he and Rivers need to clear the air and resolve their
differences.

"[Blount]
was here and he practiced just like everybody else," said Rivers. "If
he keeps working, eventually he'll be back on the floor. If he doesn't
work, he won't be on the floor."

Rivers wants to stay with players who bring character and effort to the floor.

"Right
now, we're going to play the guys who played last night," said Rivers.
"Mark may play against Orlando [tomorrow night]. He may not. It will be
what Mark does, not anything I do.

"We
did what we did for a reason and Mark's going to have to work his way
through it. I haven't talked to him. When he wants to have [a talk],
he'll come in. Everything has to be his initiative right now."